Method of forming eyelets.



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l f v Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

ELEAZER KEMPSHALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BOSTON FASTCOLOR EYELET COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE,

A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

METHOD.OF FORMING EYELETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,695, dated May 9,1905.

Original application filed February 9, 1895. Renewed August 23, 1902,Serial No. 120,856. Divided and this application filed April 17, 1905.Serial No. 255,900.

like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in theseveral figures.

This method is designed to form an eyelet having one end covered withsheet wear-resisting material which is capable of being molded or bentabout the head of the eyelet to present a neat or ornamental appearanceand to resist wear.

Before the present invention it has been the practice in the manufactureof eyelets to form the head and barrel of the eyelet of metal and thento apply a coating of enamel or paint to impart the desired color orfinish to the eyelet. Such methods have not, however, producedsatisfactory eyelets, because the enamel or paint soon wears off andexposes a metallic surface, which detracts greatly from the appearanceof the article in which the eyelet is inserted.

In practicing the method which comprises the present inventionwear-resisting material is applied to one end of an eyelet-blank to forman eyelet having a head provided with a wear-resisting covering.Preferably the blank is provided at one end with a flange and thecovering material is applied to both the upper and lower faces and tothe inside of the flange. The expression inside of the flange is used todenote that portion of the interior of the eyelet which adjoins theupper face of the flange and which is visible when the eyelet is in use.

The method embodying this invention may be practiced conveniently inconnection with certain apparatus shown and described in an applicationof mine filed February 9, 1895, Serial No. 537 ,7 4:7 renewed August 23,1902, Serial No. 120,856, of which the present application is adivision. This apparatus is shown in the drawings annexed hereto, inwhich- Figure l is a vertical section of two cooperating dies, showingan eyelet-blank in position to be covered. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionsimilar to Fig. 1, showing the dies in the position of completing theapplication of the covering. Fig. 3 is a plan view of theeyeletsupporting die shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and Figs. 4 and 5 arerespectively an enlarged elevation and an enlarged vertical section,showing an eyelet covered by this method.

For purposes of illustration the method embodying this invention will bedescribed as practiced by means of the apparatus shown in the drawings,which constitutes one of many forms which might be employed for thispurpose.

In the drawings there are shown two cooperating diestheeyelet-supporting die A and the pressure-die B. The coacting parts ofthese dies, each set thereof being adapted to cover one eyelet at atime, may be indefinitel y reduplicated to enable the dies to form anumber of eyelets simultaneously. (See Fig. 3.) Since they are allalike, it will suffice to describe a single set of these coacting partsand the manner in which they form a single eyelet.

The eyelet-supporting die A is provided with a countersunk plate (0,having an eyeletreceiving aperture (6 which communicates with acylindrical hole a, extending through the die. Surrounding the mouth ofthe aperture (6 and concentric therewith is an annular recess (0 Asupport (0 upon which an eyelet rests while being covered, is providedin the recess (0 This support extends somewhat above the bottom of therecess a The pressure-die B is provided with a depending portion 6,which enters the aperture 6& in the conjoint operation of the dies. Asshown in the drawings, this depending portion 6 is of the proper size tofit snugly within the smallest portion of an eyelet-barrel. Sufficientspace intervenes between the depending portion 6 and the walls of theaperture (0 when the dies are closed to permit the barrel of an eyeletto lie between them. The depending portion 6 is provided at its basewith an encircling recess which contributes to the formation of the faceof the eyelet-cover and which is accordingly given the desiredconstruction to suit this purpose. The periphery of this recess Z1 isconveniently given the form of a circular cutting edge 6. Relativelateral movement of the dies during their conjoint operation isprevented by guidepins 0 c, which insure proper registration of thecoacting parts.

The first step in the method embodying this invention when thisapparatus is employed is to place an eyelet-blank 6, having a flange e,in the eyelet-receiving aperture (0 The eyeletsupport (0 contacts withthe under side of the flange 6 near the barrel of the eyelet. Thediameter of the flange e is less than that of the recess a, andconsequently the greater part of the surface of the flange e is exposed,its lower face being elevated above the bottom of the recess a by thesupport (0 so as to permit the covering material to be appliedthereunder. When the eyelet is thus positioned, it is ready to becovered. A strip f of covering materialsuch, for example, as celluloidisplaced upon the upper face of the flange. The covering materialdescribed as employed in this method is normally hard or rigid and maybest be rendered plastic by the application of heat. To this end it is acommon practice to heat either or both of the cooperating dies, so thatthe heat communicated from them when the material is being manipulatedwill render it plastic, so that it may be formed readily into the propershape. The covering material may, if desired, be heated separately andpresented in its altered state to the action of relatively cold dies.The depending portion 6 in its movement toward v the eyelet-supportingdie strikes the center of the strip f and passes through it. Descendinglower, the depending portion 6 enters the hole in the flange of theeyelet and presses the plastic material against the inside of the flangeand the wall of the barrel. If said barrel be tapered downwardly, thisinner covering will be given a diminishing thickness until the surfacethereof merges into the inner surface of the barrel. The cutting edge 6cooperates with the edge of the recess a to out the strip into the formof a washer. The recess Z2 engages a part of the washer thus formed andmolds it in such manner that it is pressed down over the upper surfaceof the flange e of the eyelet, over the edge of the flange, and beneaththe lower face thereof, forming an integral cover for the flange whichembraces the flange on both sides and is also integral with the coverextending down upon the inside of the flange and into the barrel.

It is byno means essential that the steps of this improved method beperformed in the sequence hereinbefore set forth, and a deviaword washeremployed in the subjoined claims should be construed to include coveringmaterial of the shape of either a disk or a washer or of any similarform.

While the method of this invention is limited in its more specificapplication to forming eyelets having central lacing-passages, it shouldbe understood that in its broadest aspect the invention is applicable tothe forming of lacing-hooks or other similar articles, and therefore theword eyelet wherever occurring in the specification or claims shouldwhen the context permits be construed as including eyelets,lacing-hooks, and other similar articles.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The method of forming eyelets which consists in applying plasticcovering material to one end of an eyelet-blank and forming a coveredeyelet-head having a central lacingpassage.

2. The method of forming eyelets which consists in applying sheetcovering material to both surfaces of one end of a tubular blank andforming an eyelet-head having a central lacing-passage.

3. The method of forming eyelets which consists in applying sheetcovering material to the flange of an eyelet-blank and pressing it uponthe inside of the flange.

i. The method of forming covered eyelets which consists in applyingplastic covering material to the upper and lower faces of the flange ofan eyelet-blank and to the inside of the flange.

5. The method of forming covered eyelets which is characterized bymanipulating plastic covering material within the flange of an eyelet soas to press said material upon the inside of the flange.

6. The method of forming eyelets which is characterized by inserting atool into the hole in the flange of an eyelet-blank and thereby pressingsheet covering material upon the inside of the flange.

7. The method of forming eyelets which consists in making a washer ofcovering material and applying the washer to the flange of aneyelet-blank on its upper and lower faces.

8. The method of forming eyelets which consists in making a washer ofcovering material and applying the washer to the flange of aneyelet-blank to form an eyelet-head having a central lacing-passage.

9. The method of forming covered eyelets which consists in heatingplastic sheet covering material, and applying the covering material tothe upper and lower faces of an eyelet-flange.

10. The method of forming covered eyelets which consists in heatingplastic covering material and applying said covering material to theflange of an eyelet to provide an eyelet having a covered head and acentral lacing- I passage.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to the specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELEAZER KEMPSHALL. Witnesses:

ERNEST E. LE CoMPTE, NELSON W. HOWARD.

